A Basic Stupid Question

[livercup]

There is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people asking questions.:)
Anyway, for those rolling stock creators: I am attempting my first locomotive. I have the plans and have been making some progress. The question is is the wheel radius based on the radius of the wheel and it's flange or just the base wheel.:confused:
Thanks
Tom

[SAVV]

If reading from a plan, it is generally accepted that the given radius EXCLUDES the flange depth. Hopefully this helps.

[ozinoz]

You are right, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.

Locomotive wheel diameter is usually measured centre to wheel surface face, not flange. The size of the flange is irrelevant when calculating horsepower / tractive effort etc as its sole purpose is to hold the locomotive / wagon etc on the rails.

What are you building??

Cheers

[livercup]

Thanks for your help!:) That's kinda what I thought, but didn't know for sure.
I am building and Alco RS-3. Just in the beginning stages, but I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row before I get real serious.;)

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll246/livercup/rs-3.jpg

Thanks again!:)
Tom

[SAVV]

Just a word of advice from a fellow modeller, it looks like you have used a few too many sections to create the rounded corners. You could probably get away with half of what you have, and then applying smoothing to the object. Same goes with the roof profile. Although RS doesnt mind the high(er) poly count, its always best to try and be as efficient as possible.

[livercup]

Another stupid question from a newbie modeler: Doesn't the smoothing process just add the polys back to the model?:confused:
Tom

[SAVV]

Yes, in a sense. However, this extra detail is added by the graphics card after loading the model - thereby reducing load time and render time. Also makes it easier when it comes time to UV map the model.

[Shonner]

Do you have a screenshot showing such smoothing being done by the video card?

[livercup]

I guess I'm still confused by the poly/smoothing thing. :confused: I'm Having fun anyway! :) A little more progress.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll246/livercup/RS-3C.jpg

Tom

[RavenX]

Hi there, Tom,

Firstly, you model looks great! ~ Keep us all updated on it's progress. Thanks.

I guess I'm still confused by the poly/smoothing thing.
Tom

Smoothing is a shader technique, that applies a gradient scale to the base texture / colour that is applied to the model, that then gives the appearance of rounded corners /edges.

To better understand it, think of a flat circle with one colour applied and no gradient ~ it looks like a flat disc, ~ then look at a picture of a cue ball, ~ even though to the eye, it appears spherical, it is just a flat disc, (on your screen or on paper) with gradient shadowing & highlights applied to the base colour.

A very clever trick, (the graphic artist's equivalent of "smoke & mirrors") ~ and no need of extra polys, quads or triangles. ~

This is the difference between "Smooth & Highlights" & "Facets"

Cheers

RavenX

[livercup]

Thank You RavenX for the, very well explained, answer to my question!:) I understand now. I went back and got rid of a lot of extra surfaces I did not need. I still however am vastly exceeding a reasonable amount of polys in my model and will probably have to go back and flatten it out some more.
Tom

This is what I have been working on this weekend:

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll246/livercup/bogie_doubled.jpg

[trackman44]

Keep it up, livercup( hey, it rhymes!;) ) Dont forget to mirror the object on the X axis and you'll have a working truck! Take care, hope to see your model in the files library.

trackman44:)

[livercup]

Thanks Trackman44! Did as instructed.;) , but will 70,000+ polys run in RS???
Tom

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll246/livercup/PRR_Alco_RS3_INITIAL_TESTW_BG.jpg